A biased look at psychology in the world

Religion

December 04, 2016

When Alan Bono was stabbed to death on February 16, 1981, police investigating the case had no problem finding the person responsible. What they likely didn't expect was the bizarre media spectacle that followed, completed with demonologists, allegations of demonic possession, and enough speculations about the supernatural to fill a dozen remakes of The Exorcist

The stabbing apparently occurred after Bono, a 40-year-old kennel manager living in Danbury, Connecticut, got into an argument with 19-year-old Arne Cheyenne Johnson. Johnson, a tree-surgeon's assistant, had been living with his 26-year-old girlfriend, Deborah Glatzel, in an apartment next door to the Bono's kennel. After a folding knife belonging to Johnson was found at the scene of Alan Bono's murder, Johnson was indicted on March 19 on a charge of first-degree murder.

Which was when things started getting bizarre.

Not only did Arne Johnson have no criminal record, but acquaintances described the victim and his accused murderer as "the best of friends." But many of those same witnesses, including Deborah Glatzel, also claimed that Johnson's personality and behaviour had changed due to the role he played in the exorcism of Deborah Glatzel's brother, David.

In an ordeal which apparently began a year before the stabbing, 11-year-old David Glatzel began claiming that a little old man appeared before him with "burnt-looking skin and a plaid shirt torn at the elbow." The apparition then pointed a finger at him and shouted "Beware". Following other mysterious phenomena, including footsteps in the house, slamming doors, and disembodied voices, David then reported seeing "a man with big black eyes, a thin face with animal features and jagged teeth, pointed ears, horns, and hoofs."

And things grew even worse with David's mother later relating that, "he would kick, bite, spit, swear, terrible words." David also experienced episodes where invisible hands would apparently try to strangle him as well as causing him to flop around "like a rag doll. Believing that they were dealing with a a full-fledged case of possession, the Glatzzels then called in Ed and Lorraine Warren on the advice of their pastor. While their most famous cases still lay ahead of them, the Warrens had already made a name for themselves as "demonologists" and as authorities on demonic possession cases.

Desperate to help their son, the Glatzels arranged for the Warrens to investigate what was happening, as well as to record the case for their own files. It was the Warrens who concluded that David Glatzel was possessed by as many as 42 demons and also arranged for a series of exorcisms to be carried out. Under Church law of the time, the Glatzels needed the permission of Bishop Walter Curtis of the Diocese of Bridgeport to hold the exorcisms in their home. It was Bishop Curtis who assigned Reverend Francis E. Virgulak to investigate the case. Though none of the priest who took part in the exorcisms gave public statements, Church sources confirmed that Father Virgulak and three other priests were involved in the case though there was some disagreement over whether any exorcisms had been performed. While the Warrens insisted that they had, the Church representative not only denied this but also stated that no request for an exorcism had even been made.

In any event, what followed was a bizarre ordeal for the entire family, all recorded on audiotape by the Warrens. Not surprisingly, the purported possession case drew the attention of dozens of news media organizations, including tabloids and television stations, all providing lurid details of David Glatzel's possession. While there is still some question of the outcome, he was later placed in a school for emotionally disturbed children as the public focus switched to Arne Cheyene Johnson and his trial for the murder of Alan Bono.

According to later testimony, Johnson had been actively involved in David Glatzel's case, both as a friend of the family and as his sister's boyfriend. Not only was he present during many of David's episodes but his voice can be heard on the Warrens' tape telling the Devil to "take me on. Control me, leave this boy alone." As his defense attorney and Deborah Glatzel would later claim, the Devil apparently took him at his word and possessed him instead.

While prosecutors insisted that the killing was due to an argument between the two men, Deborah Glatzel would testify that Arne had experienced at least four episodes of possession prior to Alan Bono's stabbing. She also stated that her brother had a vision of "the beast" (their name for the demon that had possessed him) going into Arne's body and committing the stabbing for which he had been arrested.

Held in a Bridgeport jail since his arrest, Arne Johnson left his defense up to his girlfriend, Ed and Lorraine Warren, and his attorney Marvin Minella. It was Minella who laid out the details surrounding his client's purported possession and insisted that it was the possessing demon that was actually responsible for the killing. "The courts have dealt with the existence of God," he told reporters. "Now they're going to have to deal with the existence of the devil." Though he recognized that his defense was unprecedented in U.S. case law, he also challenge prosecutors to prove that Arne Johnson had intended to kill Alan Bono, intent being necessary for a first-degree murder conviction. State Attorney Walter Flanagan, for his part, insisted that the killing was a "routine murder, insofar as any homicide can be considered routine."

Unfortunately for Johnson and Minella, Superior Court Justice Robert Callahan showed little sympathy for the "demon defense" which he dismissed as "unscientific" and "irrelevant." Even the testimony of Ed and Lorraine Warren as well as members of the Glatzel family did nothing to make him reconsider. It likely didn't help that the Catholic Church remained neutral on the whole matter. After three days of deliberation, a jury brought in a verdict of guilty and Arne Cheyenne Johnson received a sentence of up to twenty years on a reduced charge of manslaughter. In explaining why he had given Johnson the maximum sentence, Judge Callahan based his decision on Johnson's lack of apparent remorse.

In the years since Arne Johnson's conviction, the case continues to attract media publicity, largely due to the efforts of Lorraine Warren (Ed died in 2006). A TV movie titled The Demon Murder Case came out in 1983 and a book based on the alleged possession titled The Devil in Connecticut (which was co-written by Lorraine Warren) came out that same year. The book's republication in 2006 sparked a lawsuit by David Glatzel and his brother Carl over how they were represented and the impact of the publicity over the case on their lives.

As for Arne Cheyenne Johnson, he was a model prisoner and was released after serving only five years. He and Debbie Glatzel are now married and living privately. They continue to maintain that Arne had been possessed when he killed Alan Bono.

November 22, 2016

Since its initial release in 1970, the Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) curriculum has introduced in more than 6,000 schools across 145 counties. Produced by a company based in Texas, the ACE curriculum has come under fire for its emphasis on biblical literalism, Young Earth creationism, and opposition to sexual equality. Intended as an alternative to more secular schools, students enrolled in ACE schools work towards an International Christian Certificate of Education and many homeschooling families and private schools have adopted the curriculum. In the United Kingdom, though ACE schools are technically under the supervision of the U.K.'s Office of Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted), they are not held to the same standards as public schools

A new investigation has raised fresh concerns about the use of the ACE in United Kingdom schools and what they are teaching students. As part of the investigation, Vice reporter Martin Williams phoned one Christian school and posed as the father of a son who came out as gay. The unnamed teacher to whom he spoke reportedly stated that the school arranged "deliverances" for gay students to save them from the Devil. Similar to exorcisms, deliverances are intended to "cleanse" people of evil spirits. When questioned further on the phone about how the deliverances were carried out, she replied " We have to be sensitive because obviously we wouldn't want a deliverance going on in a room and then have Ofsted walk in. That would be a bit awkward to explain."

She explained: "Sometimes we'll have spiritual retreats for youth, for teens. These will be done over a period of three days on the weekend. We do it in a hotel in Bournemouth and all these things are going on there – deliverance and all these kinds of things." The teacher also expressed doubt about whether a gay student would be accepted or not. ""I wouldn't say we wouldn't take him," she said. "But I think our pastors would like to sit down and see where you are as a family," she said. "Always, when we have a sensitive case, it's always best to take it to pastors and they would make the final decision."

Previous investigations have already raised concern about what is being taught to students at ACE schools. Textbooks being used in ACE schools have been found to contain passages teaching that homosexuality is a choice, evolution is false and abortion is murder. One textbook passage reads: "The Bible teaches that homosexuality is sin. In Old Testament times, God commanded that homosexuals be put to death. Since God never commanded death for normal or acceptable actions, it is as unreasonable to say that homosexuality is normal as it is to say that murder or stealing is normal."

Despite attempts by Vice at contacting officials at Ofsted for comments on the story, no responses have been received to date. Previous Ofsted reports on ACE schools describe the curriculum as positive for student welfare despite concerns about what is being taught to children. Opposition MPs have already gone on record as opposing the use of the ACE curriculum in publicly supported schools.

November 01, 2016

A Catholic priest was arrested in Palermo, Sicily on charges that he sexually molested four adult women and a twelve-year-old girl while pretending to rid them of demonic possession. Father Salvatore Anello, aged 59, was arrested at a Capuchin convent by investigators from the state police's child protection unit. According to prosecutors, he had met his victims while serving as a chaplain at a local hospital. His victims, many of whom suffer from serious physical or psychiatric illness, reported being told by Anello that he could free them from demonic influence with prayers and took advantage of his position to molest them.

The arrest stems from the six-month investigation of a similar case in Palermo involving a self-proclaimed exorcist, Colonel Salvatore Muratore, charged with ten counts of molestation. The 52-year-old Muratore, a Colonel in the Italian military, had met his victims while a member of the Renewal of the Holy Spirit Catholic community. According to his victims, Muratore had promised to pray for them as a member of the community despite not having any official position. He would then come to their homes to "free them from the demon of lust." He has since been suspended by the Italian military.

In both cases, the Catholic church and the Renewal of the Holy Spirit Catholic community have distanced themselves from the two suspects. The Catholic Church also denied that Father Anello was formally authorized to carry out exorcisms. Both of the accused remain in custody until they stand trial while police ask other potential victims to come forward.

October 04, 2016

In a recent interview following the death of the Catholic Church's top exorcist, two unnamed British exorcists are blaming public interest in the supernatural, including the Harry Potter books, with the recent rise in exorcism cases. Much like the late Father Gabriel Amorth, a longtime opponent of Harry Potter books and "evil yoga", the exorcists stated in a recent interview in The Times that a general weakening of faith and a "need to believe in something invisible" has led to more people than ever requesting exorcisms.

Each of the 22 dioceses in the United Kingdom has at least one exorcist (cities such as Liverpool have four on call), and all are reportedly being kept busy with exorcism requests. According to the Times interview, symptom can include "an ability to predict events or suddenly speak a new language or a sudden violent fear of holy objects, such as the case of a worshipper who found herself screaming blasphemies at a statue of the Virgin Mary". Exorcists also distinguish between cases of possession, in which the body is completely possessed by demons, and "oppression" in which people still have partial control over their bodies.

Most exorcists insist that their training helps them recognize whether the person requesting help is genuinely possessed or suffering from mental illness. According to one Liverpool exorcist however, both can co-exist since trauma can make people vulnerable to Satanic influence. "Only when it is obvious there's something other than mental illness going on would we get involved," he states. "Otherwise, I would pray with them but say 'You should go to your GP.'

One exorcist warned "Satan is always looking for people with no relationships or broken relationships. So one can be a Catholic and be baptised, and still have a demonic problem because of doors that have been opened, or that have been opened for them." Along with a fascination with the supernatural, including Harry Potter books and ouija boards, abortion, pornography, alcoholism, and a "decline in orthodox Christian faith" are all things that can make people more vulnerable to Satanic influence.

While exorcist names have traditionally been kept secret to protect them from frivolous requests, contact details are now available online. Still, there is no central database of exorcisms performed so actual statistics on how often they are performed remain unavailable. It is also unclear whether the increased media attention towards exorcists, including books, movies, and television shows, has been feeding this new demand for the rite.

September 20, 2016

With the popularity of recent movies such as The Conjuring and The Conjuring 2, there seems to be more interest than ever in "demon hunters", as represented in the films by real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. Though Ed Warren died in 2006, Lorraine Warren continues to be a major figure in the New England Society for Psychic research (which she co-founded with her husband). While skeptics may dispute many details of the cases the Warrens have supposedly investigated together, the website and museum describing their paranormal claims still draws believers from around the world.

Given the rising fascination many people have with demonic possession and exorcisms, it's hardly surprising that Lorraine Warren and many other self-professed "demonologists" continue to be in demand for lectures, media presentations, and, yes, the occasional exorcism as well. Perhaps inevitably, we are seeing a rash in new online and off-line schools claiming to teach demonology to anyone with "genuine faith." Even the Warrens' website offers a couple of courses on demonology and paranormal investigation though they aren't intended to be a stand-alone program like what other schools are offering.

I should note that these demonology programs should not be confused with "legitimate" exorcism schools run by the Catholic Church and other major religions which are reportedly much more rigorous and limited to trained clerics. There is also no such thing as a certification process for demonologists, so, as with many other programs offered online, caveat emptor seems to be the main principle would-be demonologists should follow.

Here are some of the programs I have been able to find. Please note that they are only presented for your amusement and not meant as an endorsement.

American Association of Exorcists (AAE) - Yes, this is indeed a thing. According to the mission statement listed on their web page, the AAE is a "Bible-based Christian organization" that provides formal certification in exorcism/deliverance as well as help for people experiencing demonic possession. Along with the annual membership fee of $5.00 a year, the AAE also offers 19 courses on various aspects of demonology and exorcism. Grading is done through an open-book exam format and successful graduates get included in the AAE's referral service for anyone seeking a local exorcist.

John King Hill Ministries - Open to anyone with a "love of learning and commitment to Christianity," the web site states that their course will "give you riveting experience as we cover the different kingdoms that are in relentless warfare, which affects the daily lives of people. We will examine the five critical areas of deliverance, which are the keys to freedom from demonic powers." One of the pricier options, the course fee is $450.

Bishop James Long's Demonology Course - According to this website, "Bishop Long has performed 27 Exorcisms on individuals who were possessed and he will share his experience and what he has learned throughout his seminary training with you as well." According to his Facebook page, James Long is a Bishop in the United States Old Catholic Church and his demonology course is only $49.99 (limited time only).

Institute of Metaphysics - Offers a range of courses covering a wide range of paranormal topics including Aquatic Cryptids, Mysteries of Mars, Anomalous Hominids, etc. According to their website, the Demonology course "will provide the student with an in-depth examination of the subject, and will include historical, theological, scientific, and philosophical elements... Be warned, few enter this shadowy realm and emerge unaffected." Costs $140.99 though discounts are available with multiple purchases.

And there you have just a few examples of what is available for any would-be demonologists out there. Again, I'm not endorsing any of these courses, pursue or not as you see fit.

August 30, 2016

A 25-year-old woman living in South Korea's Gyeonggi province was decapitated with a kitchen knife on August 19. Police arrested the woman's mother and brother who allege that the victim had been possessed by an evil spirit. The mother, a 54-year-old housewife, told police that she had been chatting with her son and daughter in their living room when their dog began barking for no apparent reason. Suspecting that the dog was possessed by a demon, all three family members took turns stabbing the dog with a knife and striking it with a baseball bat.

After moving to the bathroom to clean up, the 25-year-old daughter's hands reportedly began shaking and she moved toward the mother in a threatening way. Believing that the demon had exited the dog and entered the daughter, the other two family members forced her to lie down on the bathroom floor. It was at this point that the mother stabbed her daughter in the neck with a knife while her brother struck his sister's abdomen and head with a hammer. Realizing that they would face murder charges, the two then phoned the father who was working at his shoe repair business at the time. Hours later, the father phoned the police and said the two suspects would be turning themselves in. Autopsy results later determined that the daughter had died of neck and head injuries.

On arriving at the scene, police found the dead woman's head detached from her body. When asked to explain what happened, the mother stated that she and her family had a history of belief in demons and shamanism. She added that her grandmother had been a shaman but the mother had been unable to follow in her footsteps because "the spirits didn't inhabit her." Both the mother and brother also told police that they hadn't eaten in four days though the reasons for this remain unclear.

July 05, 2016

On December 5, 2015, a 41-year-old Korean woman living in the German state of Hesse died after hours of torture reportedly carried out by family members during an exorcism. The ordeal began when the woman, unnamed in the German press, began lashing out and talking to herself in a bizarre fashion while meeting with family in a room at a Frankfurt hotel. The five family members present, including the woman's fifteen-year-old son, restrained the woman and decided to carry out an exorcism to cast out whatever evil spirit was possessing her.

While the two youngest family sat on the woman's legs, another twenty-two-year-old cousin held her shoulders while his mother, a forty-four-year old cousin, stuffed a towel and fabric-covered clothes hangers in the victim's mouth to keep her from screaming. Over the next two hours, the family members inflicted what prosecutors describe as "pains and torture on her body that went far beyond what is necessary to kill someone.” Cause of death is believed to be due to smothering along with massive injuries to her neck and chest. The victim's sister was later found in a house in southern Germany suffering from hypothermia and extreme thirst.

After realizing the woman was dead, the forty-four-year-old cousin called her pastor from the Korean Evangelical Zion Church who then notified authorities. All five family members are currently in custody and have been charged with murder. They have all undergone psychiatric assessments to rule out any possibility of a diminished responsibility plea. The accused are from South Korea and had only been in the country for a few weeks before the killing.

Beginning in April, schoolchildren at the Elsa Perea Flores school in Taraponto, Peru have been displaying seizures, muscular contractions, and fainting. Some of students also report visions of a "man in black" chasing them and trying to strangle them. Though frightened parents rushed the stricken children to the local hospital, medical doctors have failed to determine any physical cause for the symptoms. Most of the affected students are between the ages of eleven and fourteen.

Though experts suggest that this is a case of contagious mass hysteria stemming from fear and anxiety over upcoming examinations, there is no shortage of alternative explanations being offered by locals. One persistent rumour is that the school was built on mass graves of torture victims that were reportedly found as the school was being built. Other locals suggest that the epidemic is a "demonic attack" caused by some children experimenting with Ouija boards and other occult practices.

According to teachers at the school, the first episodes occurred on April 29 and involved students in several different classes. In all cases, the affected students were able to return to school shortly afterward. Media attention on the affected students has likely played a factor as well with graphic videos showing students convulsing and frothing at the mouth being widely available. Affected students giving media interviews are telling very similar stories.

One student described a menacing figure chasing her from behind. "It was a tall man all dressed in black and with a big beard and it felt like he was trying to strangle me," she said. "'My friends say I was screaming desperately, but I don't remember much." Another student reported having trouble breathing and was holding her neck as if being strangled. Friends reportedly said that she kept screaming, "Take it out!"

Cases of mass psychogenic illness involving vulnerable people in a closed group, often young females, have been frequently reported around the world and throughout history. Epidemic such as this are often fueled by rumours and hysteria surrounding perceived threats that are often exaggerated. A similar epidemic was reported in Malaysia in April when a school was temporarily closed due to reports from students and teachers of a mysterious "black figure" stalking students and attempting to possess them. The Malaysian epidemic subsided after a few weeks and the school later reopened.

As for what is happening at the Elsa Perea Flores school in Peru, medical experts and school authorities continue to monitor what is happening and are hoping things will eventually return to normal.

May 17, 2016

"I want my family back. I've had enough of my punishment. I’ll stop lying … I’ll show you I can change. I’m going to keep my locks as tight as possible on my feet.”

The Ottawa courtroom was completely silent as the videos of a naked and weeping 11-year-old boy pleading with his father were shown. The father, a 44-year-old Royal Mounted Police officer stationed in Kanata, Ontario, had been systematically torturing the boy in the basement of their house while the rest of the family proceeded with their daily lives upstairs. The boy had been kept shackled with only a slop bucket to relieve himself. Unable to be identified to protect the identity of the victim, the boy's father and stepmother are now on trial for aggravated assault, forcible confinement, and failure to provide necessities of life. The father has also been charged with sexual assault and three counts of assault with a weapon. They are both out on bail and forbidden to communicate and the father has been suspended without pay.

The abuse came to light on February 12, 2013 when the boy, who weighed only fifty pounds at the time, managed to escape his chains to find water. After being found by authorities, he was taken to hospital where medical doctors were shocked at his appearance. According to reports, he was on the verge of starving to death. Even when questioned by police, the boy continued to defend his father and insist that his own behaviour had provoked the abuse. "My dad is in the RCMP. He would know," he later said.

The forty-five minutes of video recording the abuse were seized from the father's phone on the day of his arrest, just hours after the boy was found. The father is heard demanding that the boy confess his "sins", including kissing a girl while they were in a tree together. "“You haven’t repented yet! You will weep blood for what you have done. I don’t see you on your knees yet,” the father tells his son in the video, excerpts of which have already been presented in court. The graphic abuse seen on the screen was enough to leave even hardened prosecutors and investigators to tears.

Under cross-examination, the father admitted to confining his son in the basement and subjecting him to abuse such as burning his genitals because he though he was possessed. "I thought the devil was inside him," he told the court. "I saw his eyes and heard his voice." He also said that the abuse began because he had "run out of options" in controlling the boy's unruly behaviour, which apparently included refusing to do his homework.

The defendant also recruited his brother, a priest, to conduct an exorcism on the boy sometime before September, 2012. The priest has already defended his brother though he admitted not seeing this problem behaviour himself and relying solely on his brother's description. His testimony contained numerous inconsistencies and he claimed memory problems because of his "professional habit" of flushing away facts heard during confession.

March 27, 2016

A Spanish exorcist who had ordered a mass exorcism of the entire country of Mexico in 2015 is warning that recent murders in the country could be part of a new wave of Satanic killings aimed at turning victims into vampires. Father Jose Antonio Fortea in the official exorcist of the diocese of Alcala de Henares in Madrid. Well-known for his outspoken views on demonic possession and Satanic influences, Father Fortea points to cases such as the recent murder of 24-year-old Edwin Juarez Palma in warning of the rise of such cases in secular societies. Palma was reportedly strangled, beaten, and mutilated with a broken bottle at a cyber cafe known as "Freak Shop" in Chihuahua, Mexico. The body was later found abandoned in a street wrapped in plastic bags, apparently to disguise it as a drug-related murder.

The three men and one women who have been arrested for the killing are reportedly self-professed Satanists belonging to a sect known as the "Sons of Baphomet." They chose Edwin Palma due to his fascination with vampires and persuaded him to take part in a ritual intended to transform him into a vampire. Palma was apparently unaware that he would be killed by the cultists.

Father Fortea warns that the "vampire fad is very close to Satanism" and that "the more a society abandons the ways of God, the more cases of Satanism. The more a nation is Christian, there are fewer cases of devil worship." He blames the current rash of Satanic crimes on the cult of Santa Muerte or "Sacred Death" which is on the rise in Mexico and the southwestern United States. Despite the active opposition of the Catholic church which regards the cult as "blasphemous", worship of the folk saint, believed to be inspired by pre-Columbian beliefs has grown to millions of followers. Even though Santa Muerte is a personification of death, believers associate the saint with healing and protection in the afterlife. Santa Muerte is also seen as a protector of Mexico's sexual minorities who often feel outcast in society.

The cult of Santa Muerte is also popular with many of Mexico's criminal gangs with images being found in numerous drug houses in Mexico and the United States. Most worshippers are law-abiding however and allegations of links between Santa Muerte and Satanic cults seem exaggerated. There is also no indication that Edwin Juarez Palma's murder was linked to Santa Muerte or that his death is part of a greater trend. The murder has generated outrage from friends and family of the dead man and the cultists responsible face up to forty years in prison if convicted.